Rhus Glabra L. is one of the most common sumacs. It is an attractive ornamental plant and is cultivated by many for its beauty. The scientific name Rhus Glabra comes from Greek and rhus is derived from "rhous" which means bushy sumac, glabra means smooth and refers to the stem and leaves of the plant (Kindscher, 1987).

For information on Native American names of Rhus glabra L. refer to Kindscher (1987, 1992).

Appearance

Rhus glabra L. is a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with open, flattened crown of a few stout, spreading branches and with whitish sap. The height can vary from 2-20 ft.

LEAVES

The leaves are alternate, stalked, odd-pinnately compound with slender axis, 12 - 20 inches long (30 - 50 cm), with 11-31 lance-shaped to elliptic leaflets, which are 2 - 4 inches (5-10 cm) long and ¾ to 1¼ inches wide. The upper surfaces of the leaflets are dark green and shiny/glossy, the lower surfaces dull and whitish; they are hairless, almost stalkless, and have toothed serrated margins and pointed tips.

The leaves turn bright red in the autumn.

BARK

The bark is light brown and smooth on young plants, on older wood it is smooth or becoming scaly and grey to brown.

STEM

The stem is erect, rigid, very stout, hairless, angular, smooth, has raised air pores, and covered with a whitish coat that can be wiped off. It is reddish purple when young, grayish when mature.

FLOWERS

Staminate, pistillate, and bisexual.

The small, numerous flowers occur in large branched clusters at the ends of the branches; they are less than 1/8 inches (3 mm) wide, crowded in large upright clusters to 8 inches (20 cm) long.

The staminate flowers are small and yellowish green; they have 5-parted calyces, 5 whitish petals, distinct, and ovate with 5 stamens, which have yellow anthers.

The pistillate flowers are similar, in smaller clusters, more densely flowered; and have yellowish stigmas.

The buds are small, covered with brown hair.The inflorescences are panicles, dense, pyramid-shaped, 4 to 10 inches long, and terminal.

FRUITS

The fruits of Rhus glabra L. are crowded in upright clusters of red drupes 4 to 6 inches tall. Each drupe (a fleshy fruit with a hard or stony center) is about 1/8 inches (3 mm) in diameter, round, contains a single smooth seed, numerous, dark red, and covered with short sticky red hairs.

Habitat(s), ecosystem(s) and geographic range where found

Rhus glabra L. is found in open uplands including edges of forests, grasslands, clearings, roadsides, and waste places, especially in sandy soils (eNature.com). It also grows at pastures, along railroads, and is cultivated in private settings (Kindscher, 1992).

It grows in colonies that result from stems sprouting from roots (Missouri Department of Conservation).

According to Hartley, Rhus glabra is also used in gargles as an antiseptic, refrigerant and diuretic. A strong decoction or diluted fluid extract, affords an agreeable gargle for angina.

In the homeopathic system of medicine Rhus glabra is used in occipital headache, ulceration of mouth, stomatitis, epistaxic and profuse perspiration (Boericke, 1984).

Additional information: Kindscher, 1987, 1992.

Primary Constituents

Leaves and bark contain gallic and tannic acid (Elpel, 2008).

In an antibiotic screening of British Colombian medicinal plants, it was found that Rhus glabra was more effective in its crude methanolic extracts than the other 100 plants screened. The extract showed both the widest zones of inhibition in a disc assay, and the broadest spectrum of activity (McCutcheon et al. 1992). The chloroform/methanol extract was fractionated and revealed three antimicrobial compounds; gallic acid and two of its methylated derivatives, 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid and 4-methoxy-3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (Saxena et al., 1994). Only gallic acid has been isolated from Rhus glabra in the past (Doorenbos, 1976). These compounds showed better activity against the gram-negative bacteria than the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. While this study explains the traditional uses of Rhus glabra by native peoples, it is unlikely to lead to new antibacterial drugs (Hartley).

Other Uses

Raw young sprouts were eaten by the Indians as salad. The sour fruit, mostly seed, can be chewed to quench thirst or prepared as a drink similar to lemonade. It is also consumed by birds of many kinds and small mammals, mainly in winter. Deer browse the twigs and fruit throughout the year (eNature.com).

The berries can be infused into cold water to make a good lemonade-type drink (Elpel, 2008)

Sumac thickets provide shelter for wildlife. Native Americans used the drupes medicinally to treat sunburn and sores and to make red and black dyes; the roots to make a yellow dye; and sometimes smoked the dried red leaves. Deer and sheep sometimes consume the leaves (Kansas Wildflower & Grasses).

Estimation of Ayurvedic use

Cooling herbs create a sense of refreshment, a lifting of feelings of oppression. They promote detoxification and clarity. They tend to clear Pitta and the blood but can also increase vata and kapha. When taken in excess, cooling substances produce an undesirable coldness, hypoenervation, frailty, sadness, nervousness, poor memory and gradual degeneration (Tierra & Frawley).

According to Sharma (1995), the general systemic action of kashaya (astringent taste) is healing, absorbing, anti-diuretic, and normalizing skin pigmentation. Furthermore, it acts on diarrhea, hemorrhage, wounds, polyuria, and respiratory disorders.

Astringent taste is sedative, stops diarrhea, aids in healing of joints, and promotes absorption of bodily fluids, and the closing and healing of sores and wounds (Lad & Frawley, 1986).

Astringent causes shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues. It may be applied internally to check discharge of blood serum or mucous secretions caused by sore throat or diarrhea, or applied externally on cuts, allergies, fungal infection, scars or insect bites. Astringent also helps to heal stretch marks and other scars (Mother Herbs & Agro Products).

Psychologically, astringent taste is supportive and grounding, it brings things together and makes the mind collected and organized, putting everything in its right place (Lad, 1997, p. 249).

Ayurveda, literally translated as the “science of life,” is the ancient Indian art of physical, mental, and emotional healing. Based on harmonizing the natural elements within and around us, Ayurvedic medicine is a time-tested system of holistic health that is highly specific to each unique individual. Ayurvedic treatments include delicious foods, medicinal herbs, massage, yoga, meditation, and other simple lifestyle changes that work to restore your body to its innate, healthy balance. LEARN MORE